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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Encrypted hard drive asking for password every time (lemy.lol)

submitted 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

116 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I recently switched to Linux (Zorin OS) and I selected "use ZFS and encrypt" during installation. Now before I can log in it asks me "please unlock disk keystore-rpool" and I have to type in the encryption password it before I'm able to get to the login screen.

Is there a way to do this automatically like with Windows or MacOS? Zorin has biometric login which is nice but this defeats the purpose especially because the encryption password is long and tedious to type in.

Also might TPM have anything to do with this?

EDIT: Based on the responses I have to assume some of you guys live in windowless underground bunkers sealed off with concrete because door locks "aren't secure against battering rams". Normal people don't need perfect encryption they just want to add an extra hurdle or two for the crackhead who steals the PC. I assumed Linux had a system similar to what Windows or MacOS has been doing for a decade but I am apparently wrong.

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[+] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

[removed by mod]

[–] [email protected] 11 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Bypassing login is not difficult on a lot of OS.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Yeah, but a lot of those things will trip the TPM module, so you will get a different decryption key if you for example try to use the single kernel parameter to boot into a root shell. And different decryption key means no access to the data.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

At least on Windows that requires booting the PC from some other media, and that wouldn't work with the drive encrypted because you have no access to the files you need to modify.

Is it similar with Linux, or do you mean you can actually bypass login from the OS that's already booted up??

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

It is similar in Linux. Vulnerabilities, bugs, or enough time will get through on any OS so people have to decide on their personal level of paranoia. A lot of people have very little idea how a TPM or sealing key material works.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

By intercepting the key on hardware level

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago (3 children)

Perfect security doesn't exist. If they've got the engineering capital required to design and manufacture key retrieval hardware, you lost the moment they gained physical access to your equipment.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

I agree. Physical access to the device and its often game over.

Sadly reading off the key is already trivial in some cases as showcased in this recent video by stacksmashing

Since the key has to be sent to the cpu in plain text it can easily be sniffed. If however the TPM is integrated in the cpu its not so easy, but then the os can be manipulated or hacked after boot with known exploits.

If you have a long and secure password for you encryption the absolute only way in is to brute force the key which is significantly harder if not impossible regardless of capital

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

If he uses TPM. I'm not aginst OP using it but he needs to understand the drawbacks. At least I hope he will.